INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEW INSIDE OUT QUICK PLACEMENT TEST
AND FULL PLACEMENT TEST
The New Inside Out QUICK and FULL placement tests have been designed to be used for
placing students into groups corresponding to the six levels of the series. Students with no
previous knowledge of English at all would not normally be required to take either test.
Please note: both the QUICK and FULL tests are graded to test items that are
progressively more difficult.
New Inside Out QUICK TEST CONTENTS
The New Inside Out QUICK test tests structures and vocabulary. It is comprised of 60
multiple-choice test items (36 structure and 24 vocabulary) that are worth one mark each.
Timing – Allow 40-45 minutes for the Quick Placement Test
Marking the New Inside Out QUICK PLACEMENT TEST
See the New Inside Out QUICK placement test answer sheet.
Deciding Students’ Levels
Use the QUICK placement test conversion table to decide which level your students are
at. Placement according to the scores on the QUICK placement test is based on the
assumption that your students attempt to answer all the questions.
New Inside Out QUICK PLACEMENT TEST CONVERSION TABLE
Total Score
0-9
10–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–60
Level
Beginner
Elementary
Pre-intermediate
Intermediate
Upper-intermediate
Advanced
CEFR level
A1
A1+ to A2
A2 + to B1
B1
B2
C1
Placement tests’ instructions – updated writing sections and timings July 2015
1
New Inside Out FULL TEST CONTENTS
The New Inside Out FULL test tests structures, vocabulary, reading and writing. It has a
maximum score of 100 marks. There are 76 multiple-choice items (the same 36 structure
and 24 vocabulary questions as in the QUICK test, plus 16 reading items). Each of these
items are worth one mark.
There are also an additional 24 points available for the test’s writing items (8 marks
each). Like the QUICK test, the FULL test becomes progressively more difficult.
Marking the New Inside Out FULL PLACEMENT TEST
See the New Inside Out FULL placement test answer sheet.
Marking the writing items in the New Inside Out FULL PLACEMENT TEST
Use the marking criteria below to give a score out of 8. While the same scale is used to
assess the students’ performance for all three writing tasks, a greater degree of
sophistication, range and accuracy is required as the test progresses.
MARKING CRITERIA
8
Complete, accurate and appropriate.
7
No more than one omission, mainly accurate, rarely inappropriate.
5–6
No more than one omission, minor inaccuracies, sometimes inappropriate.
3–4
Several omissions, noticeable inaccuracies, often inappropriate.
1–2
Many omissions, mainly inaccurate, mostly inappropriate.
0
Too little or too incomprehensible to mark.
TIMING = Total of 2 hours for all sections
See breakdown of timing for each section below
Sections 1, 2, & 3 (questions 1-25):
20 minutes / 1 mark for each correct answer
Section 4 writing:
20 minutes (80-100 words) / 8 marks (see criteria for marking writing above)
Sections 5, 6 & 7 (questions 34-58):
20 minutes / 1 mark for each correct answer
Section 8 writing:
20 minutes (150-200 words)/ 8 marks (see criteria for marking writing above)
Sections 9, 10 & 11 (questions 67-92):
20 minutes / 1 mark for each correct answer
Section 12 writing:
30 minutes (200-220 words) / 8 marks (see criteria for marking writing above)
Placement tests’ instructions – updated writing sections and timings July 2015
2
Assessing Students’ Levels
Use the FULL placement test conversion table to assess the level of your students.
Students placement according to the scores on the FULL placement test is based on the
assumption that your students attempt to answer all the questions.
New Inside Out FULL PLACEMENT TEST CONVERSION TABLE
Total Score
0-9
10–25
26–45
46–65
66–85
86–100
Level
Beginner
Elementary
Pre-intermediate
Intermediate
Upper-intermediate
Advanced
CEFR Level
A1
A1+ to A2
A2 + to B1
B1
B2
C1
Placement tests’ instructions – updated writing sections and timings July 2015
3